CULTURE OF SPAIN Course No.: SP 205 Course Title: Cultural Introduction to Spain Credits: 3 Class type: Lecture Semester and Year: Summer 2017 (Voyager Spain) Dates of course: June 27-July 27 Faculty: Guillermo Reher Email: guillermo.reher@cis-spain.com Office hours: by appointment Catalog Description: This course will address the diverse reality of Spain today by paying special attention to how current reality has been shaped by historical processes. Both the reality today and the history behind it will be brought to life through field trips, in-class presentations and lectures. Learning Outcomes: By the end of the course, students will be able to: identify the overall phases of the history of Spain recognize the historical roots and present reality of Spain s identity issues know the prime contributions of past civilizations and actions to today s cultural heritage understand current social and political reality in Spain be acquainted with the geography of Spain become intimately acquainted with the social and cultural reality of Spain today by interviewing Spanish people and asking them their opinions (to be presented in class by the end of the semester). practice the preparation and execution of cultural itineraries Teaching/Learning Strategies: The course format will be a structured mixture of lectures, discussions, classroom activities, student presentations and outside activities. The latter are afternoon visits, day excursions, and overnight trips (see program below). The contents learned in these visits, in particular those imparted by the course professor, will be required and evaluated. Recommended Readings: Additional useful resources, to be found at CIS library: Carr, Raymond, ed. (2001): Spain: A History. Oxford and NY: Oxford University Press. Crow, John A. (2005): Spain: The Root and the Flower: An Interpretation of Spain and the Spanish People, 3 rd ed.. Berkeley: University of California Press. Hooper, John (2006): The New Spaniards (2 nd ed.). London: Penguin. Phillips, W. & C. Rahn Phillips (2010): A Concise History of Spain. Cambridge concise histories. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Evaluation Methods: There will be a mid-term and a final exam, guided excursions, and two oral presentations one of them of the term paper. All work must be handed in, presented or as in the case of exams attended on time in order to receive a grade. The total points (of your final grade!) will be distributed as follows: Participation (30%) Participation grade will be based on the following factors, and is applicable in all sessions, whether they are in-class or during excursions: Positive Negative Voluntary participation in class Behavior that is disrespectful or harmful activities and discussion to the class Display of knowledge improvement and dedication Not participating in class or activity or doing so in a non-academic manner Leaving the class or activity without permission Using digital materials in a nonacademic manner Tardiness Timeline (40%) Students will have to present in class a timeline of Spanish history in which they: a) Identify the main phases of Spanish history, and the characteristics of each. b) Ascribe to each phase historical maps and images to help understand it. c) Attach information on pieces of art, architecture, literature, philosophy, etc. to each phase. d) Include images of this attached information, taken with themselves or the group for illustrative purposes. Each timeline project is individual, so mimicked or equivalent contents are invalid. Creativity and presentation will be very important, and generously evaluated, but also quality of the contents in each of the four aspects considered. Presentation will be in class, and can be done in any format desired. Final exam (30%) The final exam will combine open answer questions with maps or figures. It will cover all course contents from, visits, excursions and trips. Students will be expected to contribute information learned in class, provide examples seen during the excursions, and other information learned. Evaluation Summary: Participation 30% Timeline 40% Final exam 30% Total 100%
Grading Policy: Percentage Grade 93-100 A 89-92 A- 86-88 B+ 80-85 B 75-79 B- 70-74 C+ 65-69 C 55-64 D 54 or less F Course Expectations: This course is a 3-credit course, which means that in addition to the scheduled meeting times, students are expected to do at least 6 hours of course-related work outside of class each week during the semester. This includes time spent completing assigned readings, participating in lab sessions, studying for test and examinations, preparing written assignments, and other course-related tasks. POLICIES ADA Policy: If you as a student qualify as a person with a disability as defined in Chapter 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (ADAAA), you are strongly encouraged to register with the Dean of Students. As registered, it is your responsibility to present your accommodation letter to your instructor at the beginning of each semester. Academic Integrity Statement: Students are required to abide by the Academic Integrity Policy of the College for International Studies which you signed off on in the CIS Academic Manual. The college views academic dishonesty as one of the most serious offenses that a student can commit while in college and imposes appropriate punitive sanctions on violators. While this is not an all-inclusive list, it will help you to understand some of the things instructor look for: cheating, fabrication, plagiarism, unauthorized collaboration, participation in academically dishonest activities and facilitating academic dishonesty. Attendance Policy: Class attendance is expected of all students up to and including the last day of scheduled classes in the semester. Students must plan accordingly. The CIS faculty and administration believe that attendance is critical to understanding and applying knowledge and skills taught. If a student has four absences the final grade will be lowered by half a grade, (for example, a B will become a B-). After every two additional absences, the grade will be lowered by another half a grade. (After six absences, the final grade will go from a B to a C+). Punctuality: Arriving after the start of class is rude. Continual lateness will affect the student s performance and grade. Two days of tardiness will add to a day of absence.
Breaks: Officially permitted breaks are scheduled 10 minutes before and after each class. Students must ask for special permission to leave the classroom during class. Cellular phones: Using a cell phone during class is forbidden. Students should put their phones on silence and keep them out of sight. Assignment submissions The term paper must be submitted electronically on the day specified in the program, while other assignment submissions must be handed during the designated class. Work submitted at any other place or time or in any other form will not be accepted. Late submissions Late work will not be accepted. There will be no alternative to completing all required work as scheduled. Hence, failing to hand in required assignments on time results in a loss of points or as in the case of the term paper in a grade of F (i.e. the student will lose 20% of the total of his/her final grade). In the event of illness, documented proof must be provided. Smartphones and laptops: These devices will be only allowed during designated research times, when the teacher specifies their use. Otherwise, their use is forbidden in class. If caught, the student will have to leave class, and that class will be considered an absence. Food and drinks: Students may only consume water during class but no other kind of drinks and no food may be brought to class. Topical Outline and Timeline: Class (10-11:30 am & 11:45-1:15 Sessions pm) History I: Ancient World 1 History II: Reconquest History III: Empire 2 History IV: 20 th Century Geography 3 Identity Politics 4 Culture Afternoon visit (3-5 pm) Museo Nacional del Prado Museo Nacional Reina Sofía 5 Timeline presentations and discussion (10-12 am) 6 Final exam (10-12 am)
Cities Visited: Madrid, Segovia, Toledo and Barcelona Course-Related Activities: Specific course related activities include city walking tours in Madrid, Segovia, Toledo and Barcelona; seminar at El Corte Ingles (Retail) (Madrid); visit to the Reina Sofia (Madrid); seminar at the Bolsa de Madrid (stock exchange) (Madrid); visit Prado Museum (Madrid); visit Royal Palace (Madrid); a tapas tasting (Madrid); a Flamenco Show (Madrid); tour of the Sephardic Museum (Toledo); tour of the Cathedral (Toledo); visit to the Magic Fountain at Montjuic (Barcelona); visit to the Sagrada Familia (Barcelona); visit to Freixenet (cava) (Barcelona) and a paella cooking class (Barcelona).